Seattle Mariners' George Kirby Enjoying Homecoming in Series with Yankees

NEW YORK - Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby isn't slated to pitch in this series with the New York Yankees, but he's still very much enjoying his trip to the Bronx, as it's just a half hour or so from where he grew up in Rye, N.Y.

Speaking with Mariners on SI before Tuesday's series opener, Kirby said the available down time is actually welcome, as it allows him more opportunity to see his family, and he said he plans to see them during Thursday's off-day before the team heads to Detroit for a series with the Tigers.

Additionally, Kirby spoke with us about what kind of pitcher he was like at Rye High School, and he reflected on the players that he grew up playing against in the area. He also talked about giving back to his high school program, which he did this past season:

Yeah, I ​always ​stay ​in ​touch ​with ​(head coach Mike) Bruno ​and ​Charney, ​when ​he ​was ​there. ​He's ​somewhere ​else ​now, ​but, ​it ​means ​a ​lot that I was able. ​Nike ​was ​kind ​enough ​to ​give ​me an ​account ​where ​I ​could ​give ​back ​and ​do ​all ​that ​stuff. ​So, ​I ​thought ​it ​was ​well ​overdue ​that ​I ​did ​that. ​And ​just ​to ​see ​the ​smile ​you ​put ​on ​the ​kids ​faces ​and ​stuff ​like ​that. ​There's ​like ​10 ​or ​12 ​of ​them ​coming ​tonight ​or ​tomorrow ​just ​to ​say ​hi ​or ​whatever, to ​thank ​me ​for ​it. ​So ​it's ​just ​cool ​to ​see. ​It's ​cool ​to ​give ​back.